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Clearing the air — government to get tough on toxic ‘rotten egg’ gas

Daily Maverick · · 927 words · By Lerato Mutsila
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-16-clearing-the-air-government-t…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

21 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 11
help Insufficient Evidence 6
check_circle Corroborated 2
info Single Source 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
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“The 'rotten egg' smell engulfing parts of Gauteng in January and March was traced to hydrogen sulphide from Sasol’s Secunda plant.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources independently confirm Sasol's Secunda plant as the source of hydrogen sulphide causing the 'rotten egg' smell in Gauteng during January and March. The 2022 investigation explicitly links the smell to industrial emissions from the Sasol coal-to-liquids plant.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Electricity sector in South Africa is an important part of energy in South Africa. Most power stations in South Africa are owned and operated by the state owned enterprise, Eskom. These plants acc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_South_Af…
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web search NEUTRAL — Theheadlines and complaints about the "rottenegg"smellthat engulfed parts ofGautenginJanuaryandMarch may have faded, but air quality in South Africa remains a hot-button issue.
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/clearing-the-air-govern…
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web search NEUTRAL — Sasolis the largest private emitter of toxic air pollutants in Africa and the "most obvious cause of therotteneggodour," she said, noting it has already received multiple government ...
https://mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2026-03-18-rotten-egg-sm…
+ 1 more evidence source
info
“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is moving to tighten legal thresholds for atmospheric discharge of hydrogen sulphide.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one web source directly mentions the DFFE tightening legal thresholds for hydrogen sulphide. Other sources reference unrelated regulations or international standards (e.g., US CFR 250.490).
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web search NEUTRAL — When operating in a zone with H 2 S present or when the concentration of H 2 S in the produced fluid may exceed 0.05 psi partial pressure of H 2 S, you must use equipment that is constructed of materi…
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/chapter-II/subchapter-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Driven by these public health concerns, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)isnow moving to tighten thelegalthresholdsforatmosphericdischargeof the toxic gas.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-16-clearing-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Title Regulations forimplementingand enforcing priority area air quality air quality management plans Title Consultation on the draft strategy for reducing food losses and waste
https://www.dffe.gov.za/legislation/actsregulations
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“In August 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued a notice proposing stricter limits on hydrogen sulphide emissions from coal gasification processes under Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (2004).”
CORROBORATED
Web search results and Wikipedia entries confirm the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued a public comment notice in August 2025 proposing stricter hydrogen sulphide emission limits under Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is one of the departments of the South African government. It is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Forestry,_Fisher…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is an Australian Government cabinet position which is currently held by Julie Collins since July 2024 in the Albanese ministry. In the Government o…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_for_Agriculture,_Fish…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is the environment minister in the Cabinet of South Africa. The minister has political responsibility for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Forestry,_Fisherie…
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“The draft amendment aims to lower the allowable emission threshold from 3,500mg per cubic metre to 600mg per cubic metre.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
No relevant evidence found in Wikipedia entries or web searches. The cited Wikipedia pages are unrelated to emission thresholds or amendments.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The president of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States, indirectly elected to a four-year term via the Electoral College. Under the U.S. Constitution, the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_Unit…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The is the definite article in English. The, or THE, may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_(disambiguation)
help
“Exposure to hydrogen sulphide can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract, and may trigger dizziness, headaches, nausea, stomach discomfort, weakness, irritability and difficulty breathing.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in web searches or Wikipedia to support the health effects of hydrogen sulphide exposure.
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“At higher concentrations, hydrogen sulphide can lead to convulsions, loss of consciousness and severe respiratory complications.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in web searches or Wikipedia to support the severe health impacts of high hydrogen sulphide concentrations.
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“Children are especially at risk due to their faster breathing rates relative to body size.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in web searches or Wikipedia to support the vulnerability of children to hydrogen sulphide exposure.
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“Hydrogen sulphide transforms into sulphur dioxide (SO2) and then into sulphates, a major component of PM2.5, in the atmosphere.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in web searches or Wikipedia to support the atmospheric transformation of hydrogen sulphide into sulphates.
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“PM2.5 refers to airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres, mainly formed by burning coal and fuel.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in web searches or Wikipedia to support the formation of PM2.5 from burning coal and fuel.
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“PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous environmental pollutant globally and in South Africa.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in web searches or Wikipedia to support PM2.5 as the most dangerous pollutant globally or in South Africa.
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“A 2023 study by Crea and Greenpeace Africa found 42,000 deaths in South Africa from PM2.5 exposure.”
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“There are currently no National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for hydrogen sulphide in South Africa.”
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“Pollution levels exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold for ambient nuisance odour of 5.02 parts per billion.”
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“Sasol is among the world’s highest emitters of hydrogen sulphide.”
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“China has very strict requirements for plants to remove H2S emissions from their releases.”
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“Some coal-gasification plant operators globally remove hydrogen sulphide from emissions because it can be converted into sulphuric acid, which is highly marketable.”
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“The 2022 investigation revealed a critical gap in the law: industrial giants can stay within legal limits while still posing a significant risk to the public.”
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“The existing limits were not sufficient to properly protect public health, particularly for vulnerable communities near the Secunda plant.”
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“The DFFE is classifying hydrogen sulphide as a primary 'criteria pollutant' under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act.”
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“The DFFE expects legislative amendments to be finalized this year to establish enforceable hydrogen sulphide emission limits.”
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“The policy interventions aim to provide long-term strategic solutions to reduce emissions and limit public exposure.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.